Product News

1:43 Lamborghini Miura SV from Autoart

By Mark Savage

Published:
September 12, 2011

Product: Autoart’s Lamborghini Miura is an impressive first effort for its new highly detailed Signature Series for 1:43 models.

Previously, Autoart had reserved the Signature Series for 1:18 models. Like those, the Miura, despite being but 4 inches long, is chock full of details befitting a larger scale model. In fact, Autoart tells us that 289 parts go into the Miura and most are metal.

Not only do the hood and engine covers open, but so do the doors and trunk. Seams, fit and finish are pretty astonishing for the scale.

The Miura is a good choice too, being one of the early two-seaters that led to today’s exotics. It was a styling icon of the late 1960s and early ’70s and put Lamborghini on the map among luxury automakers. This is the SV model introduced at the Geneva Auto Show in 1971; SV standing for Sport Veloce, which translates to “tuned fast.” And it was, due to its light weight (2,850 lbs.) and 385-horse V12 that sits right behind the driver. Top speed was more than 170 mph.

Performance: The Autoart model finely replicates all that and is surprising in its detail, from steerable wheels to a photo-etched hood flap that opens to reveal the gas filler. Under the hood is a finely reproduced suspension, radiator fans, wiring and a spare tire.

The rear bonnet flips back to reveal that monster V12 with white header covers, more suspension parts and some plumbing and wiring. At the tail is a small opening trunk.

Miura features fancy gold wheels, but the tires carry no identifying branding (the originals were Pirelli). Both side doors open to reveal a nicely detailed tan and black interior. Certainly this isn’t as heady as a 1:18 interior, but includes gauge faces and metallic three-spoke steering wheel hub, shifter and face plate.

Possibly most impressive is the small car’s finish, which Autoart says includes 133 steps of free spraying and 76 of mask spray painting. All painted surfaces are smooth and richly covered, the result of the entire body being hand polished before and after painting.

Meanwhile the windows are trimmed with chrome foil to resemble chrome plating and the wipers are delicately reproduced. Head and taillights are trimmed in chrome too, the rear ones looking almost jewel-like.

There also is good underbody detail front and rear, so it displays well on the mirrored-bottom display case that it comes with. These also are hand-numbered and come with their own small magnifying glass with a thin pointed end to help you manipulate the doors and hoods without scratching the surface.

Marketing: This is a premium item for premium die-cast collectors, no matter the scale. Even collectors of 1:18 scale may find this miniature difficult to pass up.

Keep it in a case prominently displayed with its hood, engine cover and doors open. You’ll want this to be a conversation starter and a sale generator. Have plenty of other quality 1:43 models to offer.

The Miura is an aspirational model, but you don’t want your customers going home empty handed. Having other quality, but less detailed and more modestly priced 1:43rds may satisfy them immediately.

Autoart offers this model in red, orange and yellow. A blue model is soon to be released.